Indiana Humanities

Today: a conversation with Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. about what's going on in Lake County's largest city these days -- in economic development (Oxbow Landing, the new Lear Corp. plant and the lakefront data center) , sports (the new Hammond Sports and Community Center in the former Woodmar Shopping Plaza) and entertainment (why the Wolf Lake amphitheatre is attracting big-name performers these days).

Today: a conversation with Lorelle Kilpatrick, one of the protestors who marched from downtown Michigan City last Saturday to the walls of the Indiana State Prison, to demand action on several issues that she says inmates in the maximum-security facility are facing these days. She is a member of "Black Lives Matter Gary," one of the sponsors of the protest.

Today: Ed Feigenbaum, the editor and publisher of "Indiana Gaming Insight" and "Indiana Political Insight" newsletters, joins us to review how Indiana casinos -- including the Northwest Indiana boats -- did in February. (Spoiler Alert: they're all hoping for a better month of March.) Ed also talks about the 2018 General Assembly session, its successes and its failures -- especially in the final hours of the regular session. Lawmakers are preparing for a short, special session in May.

Today: a conversation with Valparaiso's new Police Chief Jeff Balon. Mayor Jon Costas recently promoted Balon, who was the head of the Police Department's investigations division, to the department's top leadership post. Balon took over as head of the department when Michael Brickner, the only police chief to serve during Costas' 14-year tenure as mayor, left to become executive director of Porter County's newly created Emergency Communications and Public Safety Department.

Today: An extended conversation with northwest Indiana State Senator Karen Tallian (D) about the 2017 General Assembly session, the issues and the bills that addressed those issues and her thoughts on what might come up on the agenda of the 2018 Indiana Legislature session.

Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer joins us again to talk about the Trump administration tax reform program, as it now exists, and some common-sense advice to high school and college graduates as they get into the workplace and start earning a paycheck.

Hoosier residents are being invited Tuesday evening to participate in a unique conversation model at participating restaurants across the state -- including Dish Restaurant in Valparaiso -- to talk about the nature of evidence and how we decide if it's reliable and valid.

Indiana Humanities calls the event "Chew on This: Are You Sure." Indianapolis author-editor-cultural strategist David Hoppe will act as a facilitator for the local event, and he joined us Monday on "Regionally Speaking" to talk about it.

Today: A conversation with Legacy Foundation President Carolyn Saxton about the September 26th "On The Table" community mealtime discussions about finding ways to make Lake County healthier, safer and more prosperous. The concept is being introduced with a $60,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Lakeshore Public Radio's Sharon Jackson talked with Bruce Rowe with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on the plans to reopen the Mount Baldy beach -- but keep the now-infamous sand dune closed.

Today: A conversation with Indiana economist, writer and public speaker Morton Marcus on how the Indiana Economic Development Corp. shouldn't have offered state funds to two businesses to relocate jobs inside a county, a move that won't affect the overall state economy -- and how local and state decisions can be affected by proposed Trump administration budget cuts.

A recent "Byline" report from the Times of Northwest Indiana looks at a Gary city government commission that focuses on crime fighting and crime prevention in the Steel City.

Indiana scientists, engineers, doctors and entrepreneurs have been leaders in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields for generations -- and the Indiana Humanities is joining with Eli Lilly and Company, Dow AgroSciences and other organizations to celebrate the legacy of STEM in a two-year thematic initiative called "Quantum Leap."

Today: Northwest Indiana financial advisor Greg Hammer talks about the decision by the Federal Reserve Bank board on Wednesday to once again incrementally raise interest rates --the third such hike in the past 13 months. Hammer looks at the impact on Hoosiers ranging from mortgages, to credit cards, to student loans, to what'll happen on Wall Street.